How the Capital Gazette attack happened

By Baltimore Sun and Capital Gazette and Chicago Tribune staff

Jul 01, 2018 | 5:00 AM

Five employees of the Capital Gazette were killed in a June 28 attack. The man accused of their deaths, 38-year-old Jarrod Warren Ramos, swore a "legal oath" in court documents to kill a writer for The Capital newspaper.

The assailant entered the newspaper office around 2:30 p.m., and within minutes was captured by police. The following account of the attack is based on information from witnesses and police.

Small space

There were 11 people in the Capital Gazette newsroom, which occupies the southeast corner of the first floor of 888 E. Bestgate Road. Five of them died in the attack. Their desks and workstations were across the newsroom.

First entry

Sometime before 2:30 p.m., the attacker entered the office building near the Capital Gazette office using a secondary entrance on the south side of the building.

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Blocked door

The newsroom's alternate exit is near this secondary entrance. An attacker barricaded this door, effectively locking in the people inside.

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Main entrance

The attacker arrived at the newsroom's main entrance. He shattered the glass door with a gun blast.

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Attack begins

The attacker fired two times as he entered the room, striking Smith.

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Attack continues

From the entrance, one can see most of the space, and there is only one route through the cubicles and office furniture. The attacker shot his way through this path, hitting Winters, Fischman and Hiaasen.

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Abrupt end

The attacker continued toward the barricaded door, and shot McNamara. Eventually, and for reasons not yet known, the attacker stopped.

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Attacker hides

The attacker quickly backtracked, hiding under a desk near the photo studio.

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Police arrive

Less than 90 seconds after the first 911 calls, at least seven police officers arrived on the scene. Some initiated life-saving measures for victims; others swept the office. The attacker was located and surrendered.